Thought processes and conversations started under the tilted cap of Tropicana Field. Someday everyone will know the Rays play in St. Petersburg, Florida, not TAMPA, or the fictitious city of TAMPA BAY.

The Good, Bad, Unknown and the Wounded Join the Rays

I find myself yo-yo back and forth between the positive and the negative on the Tampa Bay Rays recent signings to bolster their roster coming into Spring Training. I mean the team picked up a 17-year pitching journeyman, a guy who falsified his identity, and a guy who I still consider a scumbag, but maybe he can become a viable power option and addition and slowly that title will be erased.

I know I was one of those guys toying with Shelley Duncan way before his blatant attempt to shift ex-Rays 2B Akinori Iwamura cup towards the far right in a Spring game back in 2008, and since that time I have watched his name in multiple team’s stats pages never showing what I thought was his potential. I am also one of the guys who heckled him in RF when he was with the Yankees when his throws were less than stellar making sure to remark he threw like his girls’ name.

But this is a different Rays team than the one who came off the bench and basically surrounded Duncan that faithful Spring afternoon with all of us remembering the “bear hug” Jonny Gomes applied to Duncan among other things. Sure it will take some time for me to forget all of that past experiences with Duncan at the center, but it can happen faster if he gets a few solid hits, drives in a few runs and make an attempt to be a member of this team. I am all about forgiveness if the potential and the fortitude both up skywards, and right now for me, Duncan better set his sights on the Stratosphere.

Then we got the former reliever/closer Leo Nunez, or should I say the present day RP now officially known as Juan Carlos Oviedo who was one of those caught in the age and identity net back when he was a Bullpen fixture for the then Florida Marlins. Some might have thought it was “just desserts” that Nunez/Oviedo sustained an elbow injury during his minor league tune-up in 2012 after serving his 8-week MLB suspension for his part in the identity cover-up.

Even though Oviedo might not have any real impact on the Rays 2013 Bullpen since he is still in the recovery phase from his Tommy John’s surgery, he could be a key piece of the Rays bullpen puzzle come 2014 when he would be 100% healthy, experienced as a closer, plus the Rays hold a 2014 club option on his services. Ovideo might actually be one of those pieces that Rays can fit into their back pocket knowing he could be a bargaining chip come Winter 2013 for any member of the Rays Bullpen who wants to play hard ball for an extension or hefty raise.

That brings me to the long-term MLB journeyman Jamey Wright who began his new relief profession back in 2008 and has averaged about 60 appearances a season since that first try at the Bullpen adventure. Last season with the Los Angeles Dodgers Wright held a 5-3 record with a respectable 3.72 ERA in 66 relief appearances with 6 holds.

Off the top of my noggin, it seems Wright might be a nice veteran cog to use in situational appearances, but should not see many high leverage situations or possibly be a 6th or 7th inning stepping stone to the shut-down duo of RHP Joel Peralta and closer Fernando Rodney. But Wright would fit in perfectly with the multi-sport Rays who have been known to run football pass drills, play soccer in pre-game time and just be an all-around athletic team. Since Wright is of an advanced age, maybe he can play right fullback or midfield..or not.

Then there was a fourth player brought in basically as question mark, but who showed potential in his prior minor league career that could pose a bit of a threat to someone on the Rays Bullpen bubble if he shows his stuff and makes a play for a 25-man slot. RP Juan Sandoval has been a frequent Triple-A guy in his past before his recent success in his tenures with Diablo Rojos de Mexico and Oaxaca in the in the Mexican League.

Back in 2008 it seemed Sandoval might be a closer option since he posted 20 saves while in Huntsville in the Southern League (AA), but from there his star seemed to fizzle out a bit after a total of 9 innings at Triple-A Nashville that saw him take a journey back into the fold of the High-A Clearwater Threshers in 2010 before making his exodus to the Mexican League with Quintanna Roo, Diablos Rojos de Mexico in 2011 and foster a combined 6-14 record with those two club.

But in 2012 while still in the Mexican North division he posted a respectable 7-3 record with the Diablos Rojo de Mexico and Oaxaca. It doesn’t take a genius to see Sandoval might be more of a Double or Triple-A player come April, but sometimes it just takes a chance again for a guy to rise to the occasion and with Brandon Gomes and Cesar Ramos the only Rays RP at this moment with a slight finger hold on a chance for a 25-man spot, a great Spring by Sandoval could make noise and possibly change the Rays focus to give the guy a chance to finally throw a pitch at the MLB level. Crazier things have happened…even in St. Petersburg. I mean the guy at least understands intimidating eyeear like Kyle Farnsworth.

So the Rays decided to go the Good, the Bad, the Unknown and the Wounded angle with their recent signings. With the exception of Ovideo who is still recovering from his Tommy John’s surgery, the other 3 players who garnered a MLB camp Spring invite with their deals could see some significant time since Peralta and Rodney could miss some early time playing for the Dominican Republic squad in the World Baseball Classic.

With Ben Zobrist also playing for Team USA in the WBC, Duncan could see his name either in a corner outfield slot or as a DH since at this moment the Rays have not signed a viable power option to fill one of their biggest offensive holes at this time. With time and with Duncan getting his bat on the ball this Spring, little bits of that 2008 episode will be erased and maybe if he brought his offense with him to the Rays this Spring I might even nod my head in approval of his name when it is announced. I mean the guy’s real first name is David, Shelley is his middle name.

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